Bed table



W. D. BELL Aug. 20, 1940.

BED TABLE Filed Dec. 23, 1937 5 Sheqts-Sheet 1 a M W4 Aug. 20, 1940. L 2,212,488

BED TABLE Filed Dec. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8- 1940- w. 0. BELL 2,212,488

' BED TABLE y Filed Dec. 23, 1957 s Sheets$heet 3 Gum/MA;

Aug 20, 1940. v w. D. BELL 2,212,488

- BED TABLE Filed Dec. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 why/114A A Aug. 20, 1940. w BEL 2,212,488

BED TABLE Filed Dec. 23, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 over-bed tables.

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES BED TABLE William D. Bell, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to F. 0. Schoedinger, Columbus, Ohio Application December 23, 1937, Serial No. 181,358

8 Claims.

This invention relates to furniture and hasparticular reference to a portable table adapted primarily for use in hospitals or by bedridden persons for the purpose of providing. a table which will bridge a bed and provide a convenient support for food trays and other articles needed in the care and comfort of the sick.

-Tables of this kind are known in the art as The same comprise a horizontally extending shelf supported by a pair of depending vertical leg members. The leg members are placed at each side of a bed while the shelf bridges or spans the top of the bed over the patient. Since bedsare of different heights and since patients demand different Vertical adjustments of the shelf portion of the table, it has been customary to provide the leg members with rotatable screws actuated by a bevel gearing carried by a manually rotated shaft for the purpose of raising and lowering the shelf ofthe table and retain-the shelf in its various positions of vertical adjustment. The gear actuated screw construction employed in effecting these adjustments is somewhat complicated and costly to manufacture and usually the rotating crank employed for revolving the bevel gear shafts is. disposed atone side of the table where itis not always conveniently accessible, particularly to a sick person.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an over-bed table of the character set forth wherein improved mechanism under the convenient control of one occupying a bed'is provided for the purpose of effecting vertical adjustment of the shelf member of such a table and maintaining such adjustment. Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a table of this character-having a Other objects reside in a strong and substantial table for the purposes set forth, light in weight, economical to manufacture and susceptible to easy control by a bedridden person.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to, the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an over-bedtable formed. in accordance Withthe present invention;

line XIV-XIV Of Fig. 12;

(Cl. 31136) g Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the shelf member of the table and disclosing the pivoted compensating lever arranged within said shelf. member and the links which unite said lever with the flexible raising and low ering elements;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the plane disclosed by the line III.II I of Fig. 2, and illustrating more particularly the internal construction of the leg members of the table and adjoining portions of the shelf member; I

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, and disclosing the guides for the flexible elements mounted within the shelf member;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line V--V of Fig. 2

and disclosing the pivoted compensating lever I Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view on the v s line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3 and disclosing the bot tom constructionof one of the leg members Fig. 9 is-a detail vertical transverse sectional view showing the adjustable book restina partially elevated position; I

Fig. 10 is a -horizontal sectional view disclosing a slightly modified form. of my invention wherein stranded wire cables are employed as flexible eleents in lieu of the roll-er chains disclosed inFig. 3; Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view on theline XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 1-2 is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the leg members and the-adjoining portions of the shelf construction and illustrating the guid- I ing of the stranded Wirecable in guides provided therefor within the table; 1

Fig. 13 is a detail vertical sectional View through the bottom of the leg construction of the table set forth in Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a similar view on an enlarged scale, the plane of the figure being indicated by the Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse sectionalview taken through the compensating mechanism of a further modified type of table;

Fig. 15A is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line XVA--XVA of Fig. 15 and showing an equalizing member similar to that shown in Fig. 10 equipped with a spiral spring.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the shelf member of the table and illustrating a further modified form of cable arrangement;

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line XVIIXVII of Fi 16;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line XVIIIXVIII of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the latching means employed in connection with the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 16;

Fig. 20 is a detail longitudinal sectional view disclosing the union between one of the cable and rod elements, the plane of the figure being indicated by the line XX-XX of Fig. 18.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and, for the present, to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 thereof, my improved overbed table comprises a horizontal shelf A and at each side thereof vertical depending legs BB. These elements are preferably formed from sheet metal, the shelf A possessing a hollow interior, constituting a mechanism receiving chamber C, while the legs B are, as shown in Fig. '7, substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, each leg member consisting of a hollow upper section D which is welded or otherwise permanently secured to each end of the shelf A, the hollow uppersection D of each leg telescopically receiving a correspondingly formed lower section E, the latter terminating in a transversely extending cross bar F carrying casters l5 at the outer ends thereof, to facilitate rolling movement of the table over a floor surface.

- The present invention is particularly concerned with novel and improved mechanism for effect- I ing the raising and lowering of the shelf A. This is accomplished by welding or otherwise firmly securing in the bottom of each of theleg sections E a plug of the type indicated at Hi. This plug is formed with a socket H in which is positioned the lower end of a vertically extending rod l8, one of the latter being provided in each of the legs B. The lower end of each rod is formed with a threaded bore l9 which receives the threaded shank. of a headed screw 20, by which the rod is firmly secured in connection with its associated stationary plug I6.

' To the upper end of each of the rods l8, there is secured one end of a roller-type link chain 2|. Each of these chains includes theusual side links 22, cross pins 23, the latter being sur-; rounded by the customary rollers or thimbles 24. Engaging with the rollers 26 and disposed between the side links 22 of said chains are guide strips 25. These strips are stationarily positioned in the shelf A and in the hollow upper ends of the leg sections D, the strips being arcuately bent as at 26 (see Fig. 3) to provide for the guiding of the chain during vertical move-- ment of the shelf A,'and prevent loss ofalignment of the chain when under either compression or tension forces, the chain being always maintained in a fixed vertical plane. Surrounding each of the. rods I8' is an elon-; gated compression spring J27," the lower end of which engages with a plug it while the upper end contacts with a washer 28 disposed in en- 'gagement with the lower edges of the strips 25'- and the vertical reenforcing bars 29. of the leg sections D. The normal function, therefore, for the springs 21 is to effect the. elevat of t e l an equalizing lever 35.

A to its highest position. The springs are, however, of such strength as to counter-balance the weight of the shelf A and if said shelf is unweighted or if there is no downward pressure applied thereto, the said springs will effect the elevation of the shelf. The movement of the shelf is easy to effect and may be readily accomplished by a sick or bedridden person.

Inorder to provide for uniformtelescopic movement of each of the leg sections so that there will be no binding forces resulting from unequal movement of the leg sections, the inner or adjacent end links of the chains 25 are pro- 'vided with laterally directed lugs 30, towhich are pivotally secured, as at 3!, the outer ends of a pair of link members 32. The inner ends ofv these link members are pivotally secured as at 33 equidistantly from the fulcrum center 3% of This lever is formed with an enlarged segmental portion 36 having formed therein, contiguous to its edge, a plurality of arcuately spaced openings 3'5. These openings selectively receive an upstanding locking pin 38 carriedadjacent to the outer end of a leaf spring 39; The latter has one end fixed as at 40 in connection with the bottom of the shelf A, while the outer end of saidspring projects through a verticalslot 4!, formed in one of the vertical sides of the shelf A, the spring projecting through 1 and beyond the slot 4! to produce a manipulating extremity 42.

In View of the foregoing, it will be seen that pin 38 from one of the openings 31 of the lever 35. If it is desired to lower the shelf A, the operator merely presses downwardly on said shelf,

the balance of the mechanism permitting this to be done easily and without requiring excessive pressure. The movement of both leg sections D in a downward direction is accomplished in a compensated uniform manner by the inclusion of the lever 35, which, rocking about its pivot 34, causes equalized travel of the chains: 2i. These chains are confined for-movement in their longitudinal guides 25, so that'irrespectiveof whether or not the said chains receive. forces of compression or tension, their travel is uniform.

Because of this" construction, pressure may be applied to any part of the -shelf throughout its length, not necessarily in the center thereof, without binding on the part of the telescopic leg sections. When the desired level of theshelf openings in the 1ever'35, the compression springs 21 expand and effect automatic upward movement of the shelf until the desired elevation has been reached. Preferably, during such upward movement, it is desirable to place a hand on the shelf to provide convenient control in the matter of limiting or regulating the upward movement. The table is essentially. simple and sturdy in construction, contains but few operating parts and'is capable of giving extendedservice without requiring repair or mechanical attention.

I preferably equip the top of the shelf in the center thereof with an adjustable panel 43. This panel is normally received within a shallow pocket 45, formed in the upper and central re,- gion of the shelf, so that when the panel occupies a lowered position, its upper surface will be flush with the remaining upper surfaces of the shelf to form a smooth unbroken table or shelf surface. However, the panel is pivoted as at 46 in connection with the side walls of the pocket 45 adjacent to one end, so that the panel may be brought to assume an inclined position with respect to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 9.

To retain the panel in such an inclined position, the under side thereof is provided with a pivoted bail 41, the lower" horizontal portion of which is receivable within the teeth of a stationary rack 48, arranged on the bottom of the pocket 45. This engagement is effected by the action'of gravity, and may be conveniently controlled. The hinged end 46 of the panel, when the latter is elevated, projects below the front vertical wall 49 of said pocket to produce a shoulder in order to hold a book or magazine in an applied position on the panel, for the convenience of the patient.

A variation of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 10 to '14 inclusive, wherein, in lieu of .employing link chains of the type disclosed at 2|, I employ flexible wire cables of the type indicated at 50. A pair of cables 50 is employed and the inner end of each cable is anchored as at 5| in a tangentially disposed bore 52 provided in the peripheral portion of a wheel 53. This wheel is disposed in the hollow interior of the shelf A and rotates about an upstanding stud 54, the peripheral portion of the wheel being grooved as at 55 to partially receive the adjoining Dortions of the cables 50. Compression and/or tension forces may be applied to these cables to rotate the wheel, Without flexing of the cables, by surrounding the circumference of said wheel with an annular guide band 56.

Extending tangentially from the band 56, and disposed within the hollow interior of the shelf A, are guide tubes 5'! in which the cable 56 are mounted for sliding movement only. The tubes 5'! includes arcuately curved intermediate portions 58 and downwardly directed vertically extending portions 59, which are disposed centrally in the upper leg sections D, the lower portions of the tubular cable guides 59 receiving for sliding movement the upper ends of rods iii, the latter being anchored in connection with the lower ends of the leg sections E, as indicated at 2B in Fig.

I 13. The upper ends of the rods [8 include openended bores 22 in which are anchored, by welding or otherwise, the outer end convolutions M of the cables 59. Compression springs 2'! surround the rods 18' and engage at their lower ends with plugs I6 and at their upper ends with collarsfor the reception of the locking pin 38 of the spring 39,. by'which control of the rotation of the wheel is secured.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an over-bed table of a simple, readily controlled positive mechanism for governing vertical adjustment of the shelf portion of the table. The present invention dispenses with the use of screw shafts and the beveled gearing heretofore employed in furniture of this character. The shelf member may be moved up or down with but a minimum of hand pressure, and the locking device is under the control of the centrally situated tongue extremity 42 and so disposed that it may be conveniently grasped and operated by the bedridden person. The uniform operation of the shelf is largely attributable to the inclusion of the pivotally, movable compensating devices present in the form of the lever 35 and the wheel 53 which, through the flexible elements joined therewith, provide for uniform movement of the upper sections of the legs in response or in opposition to the action of the actuating springs 27!, causing both of the leg sections'D to travel uniformly on the upper portions of the leg sections E.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig 15, the compensating mechanism also takes the form of a pivoted wheel 60. This wheel includes upper and lower disks BI and 62 held in spaced relation by an annular rim member 63. The latter member is spaced from the peripheral edges of the disks to provide an annular recess 64 for the reception of the flexible cables. As in the first modified form of the invention, guide bands 56 are provided in spaced relation from-the periphery of the wheel to confine the cables for movement therewith. The disk 6| extends beyond the guide band 56 on one side and is perforated to receive the locking pin 38a carried in connection with the leaf spring 39a.

In the space between the disks 6! and 62, there is provided a spiral or clock-type spring65 which has one end anchored to the disks 6! and 62 as at 56. The opposite end of the spring is received within a slot 61 formed in the pivot for the wheel. By this construction, power is provided to counterbalance the weight'of the table and the compression springs in the legs may be omitted. An advantage resulting from the use of the spiral spring is that the force resisting downward movement of the shelf remains substantially constant during the entire travel of the shelf due to the fact that the wheel only turns about one-half a revolution.

In Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive, another form of my invention has been disclosed wherein the shelf A is provided with curved guide tubes 10 and H in which are confined for longitudinal travel a pair of stranded or coiled wire cables 12. These cables, as shown in Fig. 20, have their ends positioned within and secured to sockets 13 formed in the adjacent ends of apair of guide rods of an equalizing yoke 5. These rods are arranged in parallel relationship and are mounted for sliding movement in the adjoining ends of the tubes In and H. These tubes have their adjoining ends stationarily secured to the shelf A by means of a bracket 15, while their outer or opposite ends extend to the legs of the table, the outer and lower ends of the cables 12 being secured to the legs in the same manner as disclosed in Figs. 12 and 13, or by other equivalent structure.

' The ends of the rods M which project beyond the tubes and H are united by a slidable cross bar 11. The cross bar H has extended therefrom a guide rod 78 which is slidably positioned in a stationary bearing 19, formed with the bottom of the shelf A.

Connected with thetop of the cross bar Ti and with a complemental slidable cross member 80 is a latching strip 8|, formed with a plurality of spaced openings 82. Selectively engageable with these openings is an upstanding stud 83 formed on a leaf spring latch 84. One end of thislatch is secured as at'85 to the bottom of the shelf A, while the opposite or free end thereof projects through an opening 86 in one of the Vertical edge walls of the shelf so that it may be manually operated.

By this construction, it will be observed that the cable elements are guided for longitudinal travel only in the tubes 1!! and H so that when the shelf A is raised or lowered, the said cable elements will impart longitudinal travel to the sliding equalizing member, composed of the rods 14, the guide rod 18, the cross bar H and the cross member 863. This equalizing member is limited to linear sliding movement within the confines of the shelf A and is guided by the vertical edge wall 8! of said shelf and the guide angles 88, shown in Figs. 16 and 17, which are stationarily positioned on the bottom of the shelf A. In this construction, the equalizing member slides rather than rotates, as in the previously described forms of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1.111 a table of the character described, a pair of leg members having upper and lower telescoping sections, a horizontal shelf unitarily joined with the upper sections of said leg members, compression springs disposed in said leg members and normally tending .to elevate the upper of said leg sections and said shelf member with respect to said lower sections, a pair of flexible elements having their lower and outer ends arranged in said leg members, means for securing the lower and outer ends of said flexible elements with the lower sections of said leg members, an equalizing member carried by said shelf for turning movement about a fixed axis, and means uniting the upper and inner ends of said flexible elements-to said equalizing member. r

2..In a table of the character set forth, a shelf, hollow supporting legs arranged at each end of the shelf, each of said legs including upper and lower telescopic sections, the upper sections of said legs being rigidly joined with said shelf counterbalancing springs confined in said legs, flexible elements having their lower and outer ends connected with the lower of said leg sections, and a turnable equalizing member mounted in said shelf and connected with the upper and inner ends of said flexible elements.

3. In a -table ofthe character set forth, telescopic leg members composed of upper and lower slidably movable sections, a horizontal shelf member joined at its ends with the upper sections of said leg members for unitary movement therewith, springs mounted within said leg members and serving normally to effect elevation of said shelf member, flexible elements positioned in said shelf and leg members, the lower and outer ends of said flexible elements being joined with the lower sections of said leg members, and

a turnable equalizing member arranged in said shelf member forturning movement in ahorizontal plane about a fixed axis, the upper andinnerfends of said flexible elements being connected with said equalizing member on opposite sides of its fixed axis.

4. In a table of the character set forth, telescopic leg members composed of upper and lower slidably movable sections, a horizontal shelf member joined at its ends with the upper sections of saidv leg members for unitary movement therewith, springs mounted within said leg mem: bers and serving normally to effect elevation of said shelf member, flexible elements positioned in said shelf and leg members, the lower and outer ends of said flexible elements being joined with the lower sections of said leg members, a turnable, equalizing member arranged in said shelf member for turning movement in a horizontal plane about a fixed axis, thellpper and inner ends of said flexible elements being connected with said equalizing member on opposite sides of its fixed axis, and manually controlled latch means for retaining said equalizing member against movement about its fixed axis.

5. In a table of the character set forth, a'pair of spaced vertical legs, a shelf mounted for vertical movement on the upper ends of said'legs, spring means interposed between said legs and said shelf and normally serving to elevate the latter, means for controlling the operation of said springs comprising a pair of flexible elements, means for securing the outer ends of said elements to said legs, an equalizing member carried by said shelf and movable about a fixed axis,

the inner ends of said flexible elements being connected with said equalizing member on opposite sides of its fixed axis, and guide means cooperative with said flexible elements to limit the latter for travel in fixed longitudinal directions, said guides including arcuate intermediate portions uniting the shelf and leg elements.

6. A bed table comprising a pair of spaced vertical legs, a shelf mounted for vertical move:- ment on said legs, a pair of flexible elements, means for securing the outer ends of said elements to said legsQa rotatable equalizing mem-.

ber carried by said shelf, the inner ends of said flexible elements being connected with said equalizing member on opposite sides of its fixed axis, and guide means cooperative with said flexible elements to limit the latter for travel in fixed lengthwise directions, said guides includ: ing arcuate intermediate portions between the adjoining portions of said shelf and legs.

'7. In a bed table, a pair of spaced leg memev bers, a shelf member spanning the distancebetween said leg members, said shelf member being provided at the opposite ends thereof with a pair of downwardly directed extensions .having telescopic engagement with said leg members, a pair of roller chains arranged in said leg and shelf members and passing through said exshelf supported for vertical movement thereon, a pair of elongated flexible elements connected at their outer ends with the lower portion of said legs and extending into said shelf, guide means eneasing said flexible elements to limit them to lengthwise travel, and a freely movable equalizing member carried by said shelf, the inner ends of said flexible elements when a compressive force is applied to the other.

WILLIAM D. BELL. 

